‘We’ll rid Ogun of kidnapping and other crimes’

The new Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Mr Abdulmajid Ali, in an exclusive interview with The Nation’s Correspondent, Ernest Nwokolo, speaks on security and policing in the state. He also expresses his desire to rid the state of kidnappings, cultism and other crimes, plus his zero tolerance for corruption.

This would be your second coming to Ogun State; tell us about your first coming.?
I was here late 2011 to the middle of 2013. I was here as Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration and Finance. Thereafter, I was posted back to Abuja in June 2013.
And now you’re back as a Commissioner. How would you assess policing and security in Ogun State?
If you look back at my first coming, the problem we had was bank robbery almost on a daily basis. There was a serious situation whereby banks closed shops because of the activities of the hoodlums in Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, Abeokuta and even Ota axis. I took it upon myself with the cooperation of my Commissioner of Police then, Nicholas Nkemdeme and moved my office to Oke-Ilewo in Abeokuta to put the DPOs on their toes. I constituted convoy patrol and convoy attack. And luckily, it paid off when the DPOs were energized. We were going after the robbers one after the other and we also succeeded in using intelligence gathering to get many of them. So, before I left the state, bank robbery was a thing of the past, even with the assistance of the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. The government brought in Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), which we placed in strategic locations, and that helped a great deal.
What further strategies did you adopt to accomplish that feat?
Effective patrol, information and intelligence gathering. And we were able to get a lot of intelligence about those bad guys and we went after them. We did not allow them to operate before we swooped on them. Most of the time, we burst them while planning their operation because we were able to get reliable informants. Good enough, this paid off; Ogun State became a place that is no longer a safe haven for them. Also, our vehicles and the APCs were strategically positioned, the Highway was made safe and banks in the axis of Ijebu-Ode and its environs began to open for business and businesses began to flourish again.
You have also changed the aesthetics of the command, particularly the headquarters. What informed that?
It has always been my pleasure to bring about improvement wherever I find myself; right from my time in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. In fact, I changed the police station completely and my police station became a model. You could watch CNN in our reception. I put tiles on the floor, right to the cell and even inmates in the cell had opportunity to watch and listen to the television because we put a television set close to the cell. Being in the cell does not mean the inmates are condemned. They are still our citizens and they need information about what is happening around. So, it has been my style. Go and find out what I did in Imo State. I was able to put tiles in the Police Headquarters and also made an in-road into the police barracks to reform it. So, right here (Ogun Command Headquarters), there were problems. The roofs were gone. So, I told myself that I needed to do something about it. I didn’t have to wait for somebody to do it for me or for the Police Authority. And with the support of the strong Public Relations unit I established here before I left, it was easy for us, because people were willing to assist us. We succeeded in changing the roof, changing the face of Commissioner of Police’s Office and I’m happy to be in the office. We are also hoping to do other things.
There have been several successful rescues of kidnap victims in the state, including that of Senator Iyabo Anisulowo. What is the secret?
True we have rescued so many people; and the one you mentioned is just unique because of the personality involved, which made a lot of headlines. We don’t like to blow our trumpets. The command has achieved a lot in the short period under my stewardship. But I see it as just doing our normal job.
The rescue of Chief (Mrs) Iyabode Anisulowo is another policing strategy we have adopted. This time around, we used more of intelligence policing. That is why it works and it involves all security agencies and police commands, not only in Ogun state, but even Oyo, Kwara and Lagos State. We synergise and work in partnership in ensuring that we succeed. And I’m happy that we succeeded.
Kidnappers demand for ransom and quite often, succeed in getting it. How come the police are not able to arrest them at the point of collection?
With the present network set up by the Inspector General of Police (IG), there is no way we will not get them. For example, those involved in the one you mentioned (kidnapping of Anisulowo), we got them arrested and those who kidnapped Chief Olu Falae were arrested too. So, we have a very powerful intelligence network. I need to advise people to always have confidence in the security agencies and allow them to do the work rather than paying ransom.
But you’d agree that people hurry to pay ransoms because they consider their loved ones lives as precious; don’t you think so?
Yes. Look at Chief Anisulowo’s case; she was in the kidnappers den for six days, which was long enough and people usually get so apprehensive about the whole thing. You can negotiate with them (kidnappers) but carry the Police along so that we can burst them.
How is the relationship between the Ogun Police Command and the public?
Very, very superb. I have a very good Public Relations Officer (in DSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi). On the incident of Mama, we got a lot of support from members of the public and the support kept us moving. People were continuously giving us the hope.
How about the welfare of your men and training too?
You know we are under the Federal Government, but the state has been doing its best to see that it keeps us happy. The economy affects everybody but we in the Police will continue to keep the morale of our boys high. And in the areas of training, it is so important that Police should undergo continuous training and acquiring knowledge of the new technology being invented. This will help to keep us abreast of what is happening in other developed world. The IG has made it very important that Police must go on courses and once you go on courses, it will make you a better police person.
How has the command been able to establish a good working relationship with other sister – agencies?
We have a very cordial relationship with our sister security outfits. The Army Commander here used to be a friend when we were young officers. The SSS man and I happened to be friends and we relate very well. Same with the Customs, Immigration, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and others.
The government of President Muhammadu Buhari has made fighting corruption and graft one of its key agenda. How is the command under your stewardship keying into this battle?
I hate to see or hear that men of the Police are collecting bribes here and there. I also hate to hear anything about corruption in the command. We have been talking to our boys, we have lectured them; even the DPOs. I have sent the PRO and Senior Officers to go round and lecture them on the need to shun any acts of corruption and perform their duties professionally and also warned them of the danger because once you are caught, you will be dealt with. I have zero tolerance for corruption.
You look smart always in terms of fitness, neatness and appearance. What’s the secret?
It is all about exercise and sporting activities that I engaged in. Luckily, we also have a good tailoring department that is doing very well about our uniforms, and then also, keeping shape. When you keep shape, the uniform will come out and the agility and smartness will be in you, not when you appear sluggish. I’ve always told my boys to be neat and smart. Neatness is essential. You should be proud of the uniform. You see, I’m so proud of the uniform and when I walk, I walk majestically and one tends to be an inch taller because of the confidence that comes with looking smart and neat. And people will know that you know what you are doing. So, it is part of me. It is already in me. I’m so used to coming out smart and neat. Besides, I have always loved sporting activities and my hobby is table tennis. I started playing table tennis at a tender age and was even captain of my team at a point. When you play table tennis, the whole of your body and mind will be involved and this helps in fitness.
On a final note, what is your advice to Ogun people and residents?
I want to thank them so much from the bottom of my heart for the support that I enjoy in the state. I want them to have confidence in the Nigerian Police. I want them to have confidence in the state command; we can work in partnership and rid our state of kidnapping. Cultism will be a thing of the past if people give information adequately and accurately. I want to assure that I’m here in the state to work.